Heath Farwell established himself as one of the NFL’s top special-teams players in 2006 and 2007.

But after missing the entire 2008 season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, neither Farwell nor the Vikings knew what his market value was as he entered free agency.

Apparently, Farwell’s stock was high.

The Vikings outbid the Cleveland Browns to retain Farwell with a three-year, $7.75 million contract that makes him the NFL’s highest paid special-teams player. Last Saturday, former Gopher Darrell Reid signed a three-year, $6.8 million contract with the Denver Broncos.

“It even exceeded my expectations. It’s a dream come true,” Farwell said of his deal, which included $3.25 million in guarantees. “I didn’t know what to expect, but it definitely wasn’t what I got. I guess it shows the appreciation the Vikings had for what I can do for this team.”

An undrafted free agent out of San Diego State, Farwell quickly asserted himself as a standout special-teams player. After starting the 2005 season on the practice squad, Farwell averaged nearly two special-teams tackles over seven games. Then, in 2006 and 2007, he led the Vikings in special-teams tackles with 57 combined, many of them in spite of double teams.

But after he suffered a season-ending knee injury during an exhibition game, Farwell’s unit scrambled to find a replacement and secured a dubious distinction, giving up an NFL record seven touchdowns on special teams.

Uncertain of his value, the Vikings let him test free agency, and Farwell fielded plenty of interest, heading to New England and Cleveland for visits. Negotiations heated up Friday morning, and the Vikings simply were not going to lose Farwell.

“It was a tough decision,” Farwell said, “but I’m glad to be back. This is where I started in the NFL.”

Farwell said familiarity played a role in his return.

He knows the Vikings’ Tampa Two scheme, while the Browns and Patriots run 3-4 defenses (three defensive linemen, four linebackers).

Farwell said before free agency that he yearned to play for a team where he would have a chance to compete for a starting spot on defense. But he knows he won’t have that chance in Minnesota because of E.J. Henderson, Ben Leber and Chad Greenway.

“They’re not going to take those guys off the field. I wouldn’t want them to take them off the field,” Farwell said. “You’re going to win with those three linebackers on the field, so I don’t expect them to take them off the field, unless there’s an injury or something like that.”

Farwell said he enjoys his teammates, and he’s willing to do “anything I can do to help out the team.”

“Hopefully, I can impact the special teams,” he said.

Farwell said he’s looking forward to working with new special-teams coordinator Brian Murphy.

“Hopefully, a new face in there, a new intensity,” Farwell said, referring to the difference between Murphy and former special-teams coordinator Paul Ferraro, now the St. Louis Rams linebackers coach. “Hopefully, he’ll get the most out of the players.”

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